The Impact of Demand-Side Management on Load Growth: Some Tentative Results

Demand-Side Management (DSM) programs including load management, conservation and strategic load growth are being implemented by a very large number of utilities for the mutual benefit of customers and utilities. This paper examines historical trends in the implementation of such programs and assesses the impact they have had on electric usage in the postembargo period. An attempt is made to distinguish the impact of utility-induced programs from the impact of nonutility factors such as economic, sociodemographic institutional and technological factors. Tentative projections of future utility demand-side activities are made, followed by a discussion of the likely impact of such programs on future load growth.